Joliet's Rash Of Burglaries Solved With Arrests Of 2 Teens Accused Of Targeting Parked Vehicles

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English issued a news release on Tuesday saying a pair of 17-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were taken into custody for a string of recent vehicle burglaries in the city.

According to his release, at 4:05 p.m. Oct. 23, an officer received a report of a burglary of an unlocked Honda Pilot in the 4600 block of Peacock Lane during the overnight hours.

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Surveillance footage showed a female suspect entering the vehicle and taking a lanyard before leaving and meeting with another person who appeared to be checking nearby
vehicles, English said.

At 1:40 p.m. on Oct. 25, police said officers responded to the 4500 block of Sunset Ridge Drive for a reported burglary to another unlocked Honda Pilot parked in a driveway overnight. Personal belongings were reported stolen. Later that day, officers received a report of burglaries to an unlocked Jeep Commander and Ford Expedition in the 2200 block of Primrose Drive.

"Surveillance footage showed individuals believed to be involved in the other reported vehicle burglaries," English said.

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Oct. 25, English said an officer patrolling near Bronk Road and Theodore Street recognized the girl from surveillance footage of the Peacock Lane burglary. The officer stopped her and the individuals accompanying her, including a male juvenile. Both the female and male were identified as 17-year-olds, English said.

During consensual searches of their bags, police said officers recovered items taken in the reported burglaries. Both juveniles were taken into custody and admitted involvement in the vehicle burglaries during subsequent interviews, according to English.

Police said ivestigators also learned that the male juvenile allegedly drove the Honda Pilot from Sunset Ridge Drive with the female juvenile as a passenger before returning it to the driveway. With parental consent, officers searched both juveniles' residences and recovered additional property connected to that burglary, along with other suspected stolen property, English said.

The male juvenile was charged with three counts of burglary to a motor vehicle, three counts of criminal trespass to vehicles, one count of motor vehicle theft, and one count
of possession of stolen property. He was processed and transported to the River Valley Justice Center.

The female juvenile was charged with four counts of burglary to a motor vehicle, four counts of criminal trespass to vehicles, and one count of motor vehicle theft. She was processed and released to a parent.

"The Joliet Police Department reminds residents to lock their vehicles, remove valuables, and avoid leaving vehicle keys or personal identification inside," English said.